Berth for vessels



(No Model.) K O MUNSON 3 Sheets Sheet 2. BERTH FOR VESSELS.

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(N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

K. G. MUN$0N. BERTH FOR VESSELS.

Patented July 1, 1 890.

lllllllllllllllllllllllll Illllllllllfll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KATHARINE C. MUNSON, OF WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS.

BERTH FOR VESSEALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,385, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed July 30, 1887- Renewed November 11, 1889. Serial No. 829,856. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, KATHARINE O.l\/IUNsoN, of Winthrop, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Berths for Vessels, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide for the use of invalids and persons in delicate health an improved berth for steamships and other water-craft, and to furnish the same with a variety of attachments and conveniences which will tend to alleviate the discomforts of a sea voyage.

The various devices which are herein set forth may be employed in the same room, and

are represented as applied to one or the other of two parallel berths mounted on one frame.

My improvements are illustrated in the drawings, and are hereinafter described, and particularly referred to in the appended claims. I design to include in the present patent improvements especially adapted to promote the comfort of passengers in case of sickness. I v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the berth-frame with its two berths and canopy complete. Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the lower berth and various attachments to the frame. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central vertical section seen from the front. Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken on line y of Fig. 2 and looking toward the foot of the berths. Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the adjustable bearings.

The berth frame is represented as suspended in such a manner that it will swing freely to compensate for the rolling motions of the vessel in stormy weather, so that the berths will not be materially tipped from side to side and the passengers strength exhausted in the mere effort to remain in the berth.

Without limiting myself in the matter of suspension apparatus or laying claim to the particular form shown, I express a preference for therolling bearings illustrated, in which a cylindrical hub a, attached to the wall or partition, forms a firm support for a series of rollers mounted in an annular bracket b on the end of the berth-frame. These supporting-trunnions are represented as mounted on the latter.

slides 0, working in grooved ways cl, fixed to the walls of the room, so that the whole apparatus may be drawn out from the rear wall and held in position to swing freely, or may be pushed back and held firmly.

The berth-frame supports the lower berth A, the upper berth B, and a canopy C over Curtains D, supported by rods E, inclose each berth separately, so as to out off the sight of the Walls of the room, which move relatively to the berths. The curtains conceal this movement, and thus tend to mitigate sea-sickness, besides giving privacy in either berth when desired.

At the back side of the lower berth I provide a sliding upholstered back-support f, with a folding arm G at each side thereof, and along the front of said berth, near the floor, I place a long horizontal step or foot-rest H, preferably supported on brackets hinged to the front of the berth, so as to turn down for use or to turn up and form a panel along the front of the berth. NVith these devices in position the berth or bed is readily convertible into an arm-chair, in which one may sit at ease with the same freedom from discomfort because of the vessels rolling which the berth itself afforded. The foot-rest is elongated and the chair-back movable longitudinally on ways formed by the rear side rails of the upper and lower berths, and hence the chair, made up as stated, may be located at desired points. I furnish a fine plush spread for the top of the bed, corresponding in color with the upholstering of the chair-back. This gives to the structure, as a whole, the general aspect of a sofa.

The back-support F is a shallow closet or locker with shelves or compartments for medicines and the like. The upholstered face F of this locker is a sliding door to cover or inclose .these compartments. The arms G are pivoted to the edges of the partitioned back portion F, and when extended forward they hold the upholstered face of the device in place, so that both parts slide together, but when either arm is turned up vertically the front or upholstered face may slide edgewise and expose the contents of the compartments. WVhen both arms are turned up, this face portion F may move away to either side independently of the sliding movement of the main portion of the back. The arms G are peculiar. The base portion is pivoted to the back to turn up, as stated, and it folds down againsta stop g. The upholstered armrest is hinged to the upper edge of this base portion to fold inwardly toward the opposite arm when in position for use. These armrests turn up edgewise on their hinges before the entire arm is turned up vertically on its pivot.

In one portion of the sliding baeksupport F, I have provided two faucets'f, Fig. 4:,(3011 .nected by flexible tubes e with hot and cold water supply pipes of the vessel, so that either hot or cold water may be drawn, when desired, for any required use. These are wholly concealed by the upholstered face of the back when in position. I also furnish a portable and collapsible bath-tub t,which may be placed upon the lower berth and supplied with water from the faucets or otherwise, which will not be spilled when properly-suspended berths are employed. A short section of rubber tubing 4" may run from the faucets to the tub and to the closet-seat, to be described. In addition to this the berth is provided with a press-button 19, connected by a flexible wire with a call-bell or other signal, so that when required an attendant or officer may be summoned.

A feature of this invention is a stool, commode, or water-closet seat directly connected with the berths. The lower berth is furnished with a spring or hair mattress, of which a small section I, near the foot of the bed, is made removable, so as to expose beneath it a closetseat K, of usual form, on which the removable section rests. Beneath this is the receiving jar or vessel J with a tapering sleeve j leading thereto. for removing this vessel for emptying, preferably by hinging a part of the front of the berth as at 70. A thick ring of rubber packing may be interposed between the seat and the vessel J, and the bottom of the removable section I may be covered with like material. A suitable disinfectant will be provided. Water for cleansing or flushing may be supplied fromthe faucets f through rubber tubes 1'. For convenience of access to the seat the lower sheet of the berth A may be furnished with a flap M, which will turn up to expose the removable section of the bed and when turned down may be fastened to the foot portion of the sheet by buttons or otherwise.

The adj ustability of the back F enables it to be placed opposite to the seat K, when desired, thereby affording a support which to invalids or the infirm is of great value. The separately folding arms G give a temporary support at each side, and may be turned up out of the way or turned down, as required. I furnish the upper berth with a urinal 0, located at the back side of the berth and about midway of its length. It is furnished at the top with a suitable cover 0. A tube P extends downwardly to the jar or vessel J be- Suitable provision is made neath berth A. The parts may be flushed with a liquid disinfectant, when desired, by means of a bottle-and-bulb syringe or like devices. The receiving-vessels J will be held in small compartments or set in shallow sockets, so as not to be displaced. Other compartments Q at either side of these vessels may receive shoes or other articles, all being concealed by the door 70, which is below the foot-rest H.

The vessel J is shown resting upon a hinged tray (1, which yields downwardly as the vessel becomes partly filled, and by such movement bears down upon a foot connected by a lever l with a signal-rod 8, extending up to the upper berth, so that the occupant may be warned by the position of said rod or by a bell struck by it before the vessel overflows. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 4,) The spring 8 gives the yielding support to the tray (1.

At the foot of the berth-frame, in the angle beneath the upper berth, I have provided a small cupboard WV, designed for a hat box and capable of receiving through an enddoor a ladys bonnet or the like, thus utilizing this portion of the space. The face of this box may be provided with a mirror Y, if desired. Below this small cupboard is a transverse shelf Z, preferably upholstered to correspond with the berth-cover, and adapted to support food, dishes, clock, or any small articles within reach from the berth.

At the head of the berth A, I provide an adjustable head-rest R, consisting of a border or frame extending across the head of the berth and along each side of it for fifteen or twenty inches, pivoted at its ends to the inner faces of the side rails of the berth and having a stout fabric stretched across and secured to such frame. At each side of the berth is a cord S, running through a ring in the bottom ofthe upperberth and connected to the head of this frame, so that by drawing on either cord the rest R will be raised obliquely on its pivots to the desired angle, and held by a ratchet and pawl or any suitable means. When dropped down the frame rests close to the edges of the berth and the fabric lies flat across the mattress over the lower sheet. I am not aware of any similar device as a permanent attachment to a suspended berth prior to my invention.

The rear view, Fig. 2, represents my devices for locking the berth-frame to the partitions. Two bolts h, sliding horizontally in bearings i, are worked by a pivoted lever on, which extends up to the upper berth, so that from either berth said bolts may be thrown to engage with their sockets in the walls or to be released therefrom, so as to prevent or permit free suspension, as desired. The lever is provided with suitable catches to hold it in either position.

A folding step at, similar to the folding arm G, is attached to the foot of the frame for more convenient access to the upper berth. (See Figs. 1 and 4t.)

I mount a swinging table T on a bent arm a, working in a vertical socket U, near the head of the berth, so that the table may be moved on its pivot to and over the front of the berth or away to the wall. The table may support food or medicine; but I have especially designed it as a cover for a vomiting-pan attached to the front of the berth in case of sickness. In connection with this I provide a pendent head-support or flexible sling V, hanging from a hook in the upperberth bottom and adapted to slip over the forehead of the invalid and give a muchneeded support to the head in vomiting. The sling is removable or may be drawn aside entirely out'of the way when not required for use. (See Fig. 2.)

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a sleeping berth with a back-support mounted upon the rear rail of the berth-fram e, leaving the berth unobstructed, and with arms pivoted to such support, whereby the berth is convertible into an armchair or sofa, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a sleeping-berth with a baclesupport made adjustable along the rear side thereof to differentpositions and provided with pivoted arms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a sleeping-berth with a lon gitudinally-adj ustable back therefor, p rovided with internal compartments and with a sliding front or cover for such compartments, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a sleeping-berth with a 1011 gitudinall y-ad j ustableback therefor, having pivoted arms, as described, and with a step or foot-rest applied to the front of said berth, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of asleeping-berth with a back therefor arranged to slide along the rear rail of the berth, and with arms pivoted to the edges of such back and provided with arm-rests hinged to fold inwardly on said arms, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a sleeping-berth provided with a spring or stuffed mattress with a stool 0r closet-seat K and a permanent sleeve j, and removable jar or pan J below it, all located within the berth-frame, and with a removable section of such mattress, serving to cover and conceal such seat, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a sleeping-berth having a stool or closet-seat and jar located within it with a mattress having a removable sec tion, with wooden bottom constitutinga cover over said seat or jar, and an adjustable backsupport, which may be placed opposite said seat, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a pair of suspended sleeping-berths, of a urinalfixed with in the frame of the upper berth, a dischargepipe leading therefrom to a concealed receptacle in the frame of the lower berth, and a cover for said urinal, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a suspended berthframe with lower and upper berths A and B and a canopy O, with curtain-supports along its edge, and with curtains connected to said parts to inclose the berths when desired, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a suspended berth having a chambered longitudinally-adjustable bacl -support with faucets f, fixed within such chamber, and with flexible tubes connecting said faucets with a source of water-- supply, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a suspended berthframe and two berths mounted thereon with an adjustable head-rest R,-having its frame connected pivotally to the edges of the lower berth, and provided with a hoisting-cord running through a ring beneath the upper berth, whereby the occupant of the lower berth may elevate the head-rest obliquely, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a suspended berth, with a table T, swinging horizontally on an arm pivoted to the front of the berth-frame, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a suspended berthframe and the upper and lower berths upon it with a pivoted lockinglever on, extending within reach from both berths, and two sliding bolts h, adapted to secure said frame at its lower portion to the walls of the room at each end of the berths or to disengage it, as desired, substantially as set forth.

14:. The combination, with a suspended berth, of a flexible depending sling V, secured to the supporting-frame above such berth, and adapted to serve as a temporary support for the head of an invalid, substantially as setforth.

15. The combination, with a pair of sus pended sleeping-berths placed one above the other, and with a urinal fixed within the upper-berth frame, of a pipe leading thence to a receiving-vessel inclosed beneath the lower berth, a yielding platform on which said ves sel stands, and a signal apparatus connected with said platform and actuated therefrom, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 28th day of May, A. D. 1887. p

KATHARINE O. MUNSON.

Witnesses:

A. II. SPENCER, THos. J. KENNY. 

